Legend of Green: Rise of the Red Rebels

On August 11, 2012, at the Bergrigig Lane Stadium, FC United's first game of the 12-13 National League season was about to begin, and Lu Wei's starting list was a bit surprising, not the usual 433 or the used 532, but the traditional 442 formation in England, goalkeeper Pope, defenders Jonatão, Schaver, Tyrone and Robertson, McRess, Draper, Lucas and Wright in midfield, and two new signings Akinfenwa and Moore in the striker.

This change caught FC United's opponent Surisbury City off guard, in the pre-match preparation, Surisbury City learned that FC United's lineup has not changed much, although the main striker left with a record for amateur transfers, but the addition of Akinshanwa made FC United repeatedly appear in media reports, Surisbury City watched last season's game video and has been preparing with FC United's 433 formation, ready to limit the play of FC United's two wingers, This time suddenly removed two wingers on two centers, not the traditional combination of one high and one fast, but a high and one strong combination, how to prevent this in the penalty area.

Sarrisbury City is still not ready, they have no idea that Mane is still on vacation because of the Olympics, although he returned to the team early two days ago, but Lu Wei only arranged physical training for Mane, and will not let him play for the time being, and is now sitting in the stands.

Although Mane and Vardy are missing, FC United's offensive threat has not decreased in the slightest, the tactics of sending Moore and Akinfinwa are obvious, that is, high-altitude bombing, competing for a chance is easy to get a goal, pity the two defenders of Surisbury City, the highest height is only 186, the scramble in the box is not dominant at all, it's good to keep an eye on Moore, use experience and body to limit Moore's jump, but against Aginfinwa, who has been mixed in the League Two for many years, it doesn't work, That big physique is not at all something that ordinary people can fight against, once or twice is fine, but if it is 90 minutes, the defender is miserable. Sure enough, in the 29th minute, Surisbury City lost the goal, and Akingfenwa took Wright's cross from the left and broke the defender into the goal, and Akinsonwa scored his first goal for FC United.

FC United who tasted the sweetness began to frequently cross from the wing, although the quality is not high, but quantitative changes will always cause qualitative changes, in the first half of stoppage time, it was Wright who found the back point Moore in the cross on the left side, Moore was successful three times in the first half but the final header was deflected off the goal, this time after the jump the ball to the penalty spot, Akinfinwa took the ball and leaned against the defender is a strong shot, 2:0, Akinfinwa scored twice in the first game, which can be described as a dimensionality reduction blow, Lu Wei, who was standing on the sidelines, thought to himself, after all, there is not so much money spent on Akinfenwa's body in vain, Walsh should not nag me anymore.

Surisbury City, who were two goals behind, adjusted their tactics in the second half, allowing the back to help defend Akinfinwa and limit Akinfenwa's shots. But the coach of Surisbury City cried as soon as the second half began, as Lu Wei replaced Akinfenwa with another new signing. Thayer tightened his control in midfield, leaving Moore alone to continue scrambling for crosses.

Lu Wei this is to exercise Moore, several attacks by Surisbury City are not a threat to FC United, it is no problem to win the game unexpectedly, Moore has not played a first-team game in Trudeau City before, just as Mane is not playing now, the strength of the forward line is insufficient, so temper him.

The rest of the second half turned into a game of the ball flying in the sky, with FC United defending the next attack and taking control of the ball in midfield to the two wings, giving it to two full-backs and full-backs who plugged in the attack, and immediately crossed when Moore ran into position. When Surisbury City saw the change, he let the two central defenders stick to Moore, leaving him unable to play, Lu Wei told the players on the field to attack normally, the single-arrow Moore also consumed a lot of physical energy in the fight with the defenders, the offensive end failed to create a threat, FC United and Surisbury City did not score in the second half, the score remained 2-0 until the end, FC United won the first national league victory at home.

Although the first game was won easily, Lu Wei immediately convened the coaching staff to start the post-match meeting, this game because of Mane's absence so the cross tactic was adopted, but when Akinsfinwa was also replaced, the team's attack seemed to fall into a swamp, Lu Wei and the coaching staff to solve that if Mane and Akinfinwa did not play, how to arrange the team's offensive routine, anyway, it is impossible to rely on the side cross to solve, that is too dependent on luck, And luck is the last thing Lu Wei believes in on the court, and all luck is the result of continuous efforts before.

Three days later, in the second round of the league, FC United went to challenge York City, Mane was still sitting in the stands and watching, and surprisingly, Akinfenwa, who scored twice in the last game, sat on the bench, FC United returned to the 433 formation, high school forward Moore, the two wingers are McReth and Robertson, who was put on the striker, intend to use speed to break through the opponent's backline.

The result was not satisfactory to Lu Wei, and he drew 1-1 with Yorktown. FC United conceded the goal in the opening three minutes, Draper was seized by York City by a passing error at the back, and the striker broke the ball and burst into the box with a low shot to win the lead. FC United did not equalise until the 65th minute by Higgins, and Draper assisted Higgins' shot into the dead corner from the penalty area line.

In the third round of the game at home against Gateshead, the returning starter Akinfenwa showed his talents, a goal and an assist made him firmly in the main position, Moore's condition also improved somewhat, gradually adapted to the rhythm of the game on the field, but unfortunately Gateshead performed equally well, scoring two goals in the 56th and 62nd minutes to tie the score to 2:2, which was also the final score.

On August 25, Mane, who had been training with the team for two weeks, finally returned to the starting line-up, and FC United also ended a two-game draw streak, winning 1-2 away to Jovel Town, Mane assisted McRees to open the scoring and was scored by Schaefer with a corner header in the 87th minute.

FC United also went on to victory after Mane's return, winning all their games in September until 20 October swallowing their first National League defeat, losing 2-0 away to Heiston. In the next round, due to the rotation for the second round of the FA Cup, the semi-main and semi-substitute line-up drew 3-3 with Barnett, and is currently at the top of the table with 14 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat after 18 league rounds, with 45 points, six points ahead of second-placed Grisby City.

The league is not under pressure to focus on the cup, this is Lu Wei's always implemented preparation thinking, fully prepared FC United won 1-2 away to Moore's old club Truro City, and the overtake goal was also scored by Moore, Ruonatão on the right flank of an indirect free kick, Moore nodded in the box to top the ball into the upper right corner to advance to the next round.

Back in the league, FC United are unstoppable, a five-game winning streak has widened the points gap to 10 points, Mane's post-Olympic progress is very large, coupled with Akinfenwa's dominance in the box, FC United have scored 61 goals in 23 rounds, such an attacking ability is stronger than last season, and the league championship is just around the corner.